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Get Your Etsy Shop Ready for Valentine’s Day Shoppers

While we’re still soaking up the holiday cheer, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Each February, people celebrate love in all its forms, whether with their partners, children, friends, or through self-love. For handmade sellers, it’s the perfect sales opportunity to tap into this heartfelt season.

Learning how to prepare your Etsy shop for Valentine’s Day can help you make the most of this seasonal shopping moment. By adding small touches, personalization options, and love-themed details, you can showcase your products as thoughtful, personalized gifts for shoppers looking to wow their loved ones (or themselves!) during the season of love.

How Should I Change My Etsy Shop Visually?

If you’re an Etsy seller who decks out their shop for the Christmas holiday season, now is the time to update and redecorate! Preparing your Etsy shop for Valentine’s Day starts with removing visuals left over from the holidays, such as trees, ornaments, or cute Santas. Remember to remove any holiday order cutoff information from your shop’s homepage and listings, as it is now outdated. For Valentine’s Day, consider swapping out winter graphics for hearts or roses. Try changing your shop’s color scheme from red and green to red and pink.

When preparing your Etsy shop for Valentine’s Day search traffic, think about how your items might appear on Etsy search results pages. Photograph them with red or pink backgrounds or add fun, thematic props such as classic Valentine’s chocolates or candy hearts to your listing thumbnails. Include graphics within your listing showing packaging options or any extra ways you can make your listings stand out as memorable gifts. For more tips on creating eye-catching images, read this eRank blog post.

How Can I Find Keywords to Swap?

As soon as the December rush is over, it’s time to swap out holiday-specific tags for the new year. Part of preparing your Etsy shop for Valentine’s Day involves reviewing which keywords and tags still make sense for your listings. While it may be tempting to change every “Christmas” tag to “Valentine’s Day,” it’s important to consider the products you offer before making that switch. If your items are Christmas-themed or already rank well for Christmas keywords, you may not need to change them at all. Your goal is to ensure your listings match relevant searches and resonate with the right audience.

For creations aimed more towards self-love or self-care, “Valentine’s Day” may not be what shoppers are looking for. Take the time to research what keywords customers use when searching for your specific Etsy products, rather than broad terms such as “Valentine’s Day Gift”.

With eRank’s Keyword Tool, you can search any keyword and take a deep dive into analytics for not only that term, but for other similar terms as well. Sellers are able to filter keywords by metrics such as average searches and competition. This saves you time when working on your SEO and can help you find more tailored results, which gives you a potential advantage over other sellers in your niche. The “Keyword Ideas” section for a broad term like “Valentine’s Day” provides clues as to the types of products that may also be popular this coming holiday.

Once you find keywords that fit your listing, be sure to include them in its title and tags. Use the “Holiday” attribute only if your items are specific to Valentine’s Day (example: a greeting card that says “Happy Valentine’s Day”) and not if they can only be gifted for the occasion (example: a silver diamond bracelet). If your product is relevant enough for the “Holiday” attribute, Etsy factors that into the keywords when ranking your listing in shoppers’ searches.

For more information on using attributes, read this eRank blog post.

For more information on how to properly use keywords in your listings, read this eRank blog post and Etsy’s Keywords 101: Everything You Need to Know.

When Is It Too Late To Begin Listing and Marketing Valentine Products?

While it is best to list products for specific holidays about three months in advance, there are still opportunities to capture last-minute shoppers and make the most of Valentine’s Day on Etsy. Digital downloads such as gift tags, cards, and coloring sheets have instant delivery times, making them appealing to shoppers who wait until February 14th to put together that perfect gift. 

The great news about marketing is that it can be done almost instantly! While taking listing photos and videos for your Etsy listings, snap a few extra to use for your social media accounts. If you’re wondering how to prepare your Etsy shop for Valentine’s Day marketing, early January is a great time to start, as people are out of holiday mode and ready for the next gift-giving holiday. Attract buyers by incorporating the same props and color schemes that are in your product photos. Take the time to tell a story of why your items make memorable gifts. You can even include unboxing videos and love-themed hashtags or descriptions.

How Can This Valentine’s Day Be My Best Yet?

Valentine’s Day presents handmade sellers with a fantastic opportunity to tap into one of the most celebrated holidays of the year. By preparing your Etsy shop early and optimizing your listings with relevant keywords, you can be ready when seasonal searches start to rise.

Whether you create traditional Valentine’s Day gifts like jewelry and home decor or unique handmade items that stand out, this season offers endless possibilities to showcase your creativity and connect with customers. Remember, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about couples. It’s about celebrating love in all its forms. Do not hesitate to tailor your offerings to a wide audience!

Get ahead of the curve and start preparing today. By putting together a plan for Valentine’s Day, you can attract more shoppers and make the most of the season.